If you’re an Indian or have actually encountered an Asian or traveled to Asia, you’ve definitely seen or heard that several households have such a custom of assembling all family members on carpets, mostly on the clean floor, when eating their meals.
You may very well have learned about the established health benefits. However, there seem to be a number of other factors that contribute to a better quality of life. We will learn in this article Why Do Asians Sit on the Floor.
Why Do Asians Sit on the Floor?
The significance of the floor sitting component, possibly in cultural concepts, perhaps in scientific mentality, is so significant that it transcends to other relevant aspects of daily life as well.
The innovation of these methods to successfully retain the floors toasty has been necessitated, particularly in Korea, to guarantee that such an old approach of seating doesn’t really fall out from the face of the presumed comfort of newer day chairs, cozy sofas, and nice, comfortable floor chairs and bean bags, even though it’s been a somewhat more historic ongoing way of a classical.
Known as ondols, meaning translates warm stones, this is a type of heated floor that is particularly appealing to the Korean masses, who still prefer to sit and lay on the floor, or at the very minimum, work and dine at short tables rather than high ones.
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The Chinese Kang bed stoves are quite similar, and both understand the significance that the ‘floor connection’ has come to cultivate in either country.
The advantages of sitting, sleeping, and even dining on the floor for such Asian nations are enormous, capturing the support of the public world, particularly in terms of remaining grounded, quite figuratively.
In What Parts of Asia Is Floor Sitting Practiced?
Japan
The practice is more usual in Japan, and it is more deeply ingrained in the cultural scope of the country’s existence. The manner traditional Japanese homes were built is one of the key reasons why so Japanese started by resting on the floors and remaining to do so.
Japanese culture has traditionally included sitting on the floor. Tatami, or straw floor mats, are used to eat and sleep in traditional Japanese households. From Meditative practices to the tea ceremony, many Japanese cultural activities are performed entirely or partially on the floor.
China
Early records suggest that the Chinese took off their footwear since they sat on the ground, exactly as they do today in traditional Korean and Japanese residences.
During the Qin and Han dynasties (221BC-AD220), people continued to sit on floors indoors with their feet bare, as attested by relics and wall art discovered at ancient monuments during that time.
India
For one thing, Indians are accustomed to sitting on the floor for relaxation. Sukhasana, or close padmasana, is an asana in which you sit cross-legged on the floor. It works by relaxing your mind because it is the first stage of yoga.
The asana increases stress on the lumbar region, which helps you relax. It also helps you breathe more slowly, relaxes your muscles, and reduces blood pressure.
Korea
Like China, Japan, and India, South Korea is a culture where everything revolves around the floor. In Korea, people sit on the floor to eat, chill out, watch Movies, interact, and sometimes even nap. Koreans have replaced air heaters with heated flooring, which is known as “ondol” or “warm stone” in Korean.
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Taking off shoes while entering someone’s home is a courteous and required gesture because maintaining the area clean is a primary focus.
The entry, which is normally lower than the average space of the entire house, is used to leave shoes before you enter the remainder of the living room in Korean houses.
Take a look at this article to understand the difference between sitting on the floor compared to a chair.
Physical Health Benefits of Sitting on Floor
a) Improved Digestion
Sitting on the floor, as well as resting in the ‘Sukhasana stance’ on crossed legs, aids in the process of digestion. The abdominal muscles are maintained in a slightly bent forward posture, which enhances the production of gastric acid and permits meals to digest more quickly.
b) Controlling your weight
The bodily movements are elevated by rising up to sit back. This pose helps to relax both the mind and the spine. The stomach tuck will assist you in avoiding overeating. It also aids in the reduction of weariness and joint pain.
Mental Health Benefits of Sitting on Floor
Get a glimpse of the psychological health effects of sitting down on the floor. Not only does sitting provide numerous obvious therapeutic benefits, but it also helps with a variety of emotional and psychological issues.
a) Mind at ease
Padmasana and Sukhasana are both excellent in stress reduction from thoughts since they are ideal poses for meditation. When the lungs are fully expanded, it is also an ideal position for increasing oxygen flow in the body. It soothes your shoulder muscles while straightening the spine.
b) Encourage gratitude
When you sit down to eat, your mind is at its most alert—the mind shifts from a frantic to a peaceful condition. As a result, you feel appreciative for obtaining this meal in our lives. It instills reverence for what’s placed in front of you.
Gratitude can be developed in a variety of ways. Before starting a meal, many people, families, or societies in Asian countries make a devotional gesture.
Building Healthy Relationships
Sitting on the floor benefits not just your health, intellect, and spirit but then also personal relationships with your relatives and friends.
a) Optimism in yourself
You may even sense the mental and physical tranquility you’d achieve. Practicing this could help you develop conscientious eating habits that will benefit you in the long term.
Several studies indicate that adopting simple and minor habits like this can avoid many diseases.
b) Healthy friend and family relationships
While you’re seated, you should encourage your siblings, children, and parents (if they’re in the condition) to accompany you. This strengthens patients while also preventing emotional eating.
Because loneliness has been linked to anxiety, worry, and tension in numerous studies, it’s one of the behavioral adjustments that will negate every one of these harmful effects.
Final Words
It is indeed amazing to know about this Asian culture. It shows how different rich cultures are and how unique they all can be. Check out these awesome floor chairs that might make you understand why Asians sit on the floor.
